Tuesday
Dec192006
White House Gaggle
Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
The President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. He will sign HR6143, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, S843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006, and S3678, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. At 11.40 am, the President will participate in an interview with the Washington Post. At 1.20pm he has a photo opportunity with United States ambassadors. At 1.45pm President Bush has policy time on economic policy. At 2.35 pm , there is a meeting with 2006/2007 White House fellows in the Roosevelt Room. At 6 pm he and Mrs. Bush host a residents and staff reception.
Joint Chiefs of Staff/White House
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked whether it is the case that the Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously opposed a White House move for a surge in Iraq. Snow said no, and that people were trying to create a fight between the President and the Joint Chiefs where one does not exist. The President has not made a decision on the way forward. He has asked military commanders to consider a range of options and they are doing so. The President is going to do things in response to military necessity. He will work with the Joint Chiefs.
Snow said there were assumptions embedded in the question that he would not get into. There is an assumption that people have been given marching orders, and at this point the President is asking people to take a look at a number of things. The idea of a surge is being explored, Snow said. He declined to get into what the Joint Chiefs have or have not said.
Snow was asked whether, if the Joint Chiefs balked at the idea of a surge, the President might go ahead. He replied that he would not get into internal deliberations, nor would he get into hypothetical internal deliberations. The President is the Commander in Chief, but he takes into account and studies the recommendations, advice and views of a wide range of people, and that would include those involved in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Snow said.
Snow stated that he would not confirm the story in general. He cautioned the press against the tone of the narrative that he said seemed to be developing where there is an attempt to place the President at odds with the Joint Chiefs. He denied friction between the President and the Joint Chiefs. The President has not shown his hand yet, Snow added. He is asking people questions. He is being aggressive in trying to examine a wide range of views on how to move forward in Iraq. One should read no more or less into it than that.
First Lady/Cancer
Snow was asked why the press and public had not been informed that Mrs. Laura Bush has had a tumor removed from her leg. He said that the President and Vice President, being elected officials, disclose medical details. Other members of the family, not being elected, do not do so, and have not done so in previous administrations. It was pointed out that the First Lady is a public figure; she did a lot of independent campaigning this year, and elevated herself onto the public platform. She would thus have an obligation to reveal any health problems. Snow said this was just a squamous cell carcinoma, that this was not a big thing, and that "you guys" were trying to work it up into something much larger than it is. Asked how Barney is, Snow replied that he is perky.
The President's Schedule
The President had his usual briefings. He will sign HR6143, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, S843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006, and S3678, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. At 11.40 am, the President will participate in an interview with the Washington Post. At 1.20pm he has a photo opportunity with United States ambassadors. At 1.45pm President Bush has policy time on economic policy. At 2.35 pm , there is a meeting with 2006/2007 White House fellows in the Roosevelt Room. At 6 pm he and Mrs. Bush host a residents and staff reception.
Joint Chiefs of Staff/White House
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked whether it is the case that the Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously opposed a White House move for a surge in Iraq. Snow said no, and that people were trying to create a fight between the President and the Joint Chiefs where one does not exist. The President has not made a decision on the way forward. He has asked military commanders to consider a range of options and they are doing so. The President is going to do things in response to military necessity. He will work with the Joint Chiefs.
Snow said there were assumptions embedded in the question that he would not get into. There is an assumption that people have been given marching orders, and at this point the President is asking people to take a look at a number of things. The idea of a surge is being explored, Snow said. He declined to get into what the Joint Chiefs have or have not said.
Snow was asked whether, if the Joint Chiefs balked at the idea of a surge, the President might go ahead. He replied that he would not get into internal deliberations, nor would he get into hypothetical internal deliberations. The President is the Commander in Chief, but he takes into account and studies the recommendations, advice and views of a wide range of people, and that would include those involved in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Snow said.
Snow stated that he would not confirm the story in general. He cautioned the press against the tone of the narrative that he said seemed to be developing where there is an attempt to place the President at odds with the Joint Chiefs. He denied friction between the President and the Joint Chiefs. The President has not shown his hand yet, Snow added. He is asking people questions. He is being aggressive in trying to examine a wide range of views on how to move forward in Iraq. One should read no more or less into it than that.
First Lady/Cancer
Snow was asked why the press and public had not been informed that Mrs. Laura Bush has had a tumor removed from her leg. He said that the President and Vice President, being elected officials, disclose medical details. Other members of the family, not being elected, do not do so, and have not done so in previous administrations. It was pointed out that the First Lady is a public figure; she did a lot of independent campaigning this year, and elevated herself onto the public platform. She would thus have an obligation to reveal any health problems. Snow said this was just a squamous cell carcinoma, that this was not a big thing, and that "you guys" were trying to work it up into something much larger than it is. Asked how Barney is, Snow replied that he is perky.
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